Selling school-branded merchandise is nothing new at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. However, alumni of Kingston College (KC) have taken matters into their own hands to support hundreds of students in need.

The USA arm of the Kingston College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) operated a booth inside the vendors area at the National Stadium grandstand and sold KC apparel and memorabilia over the five days of the championships.

While there were other vendors on hand, the booth seemed to be the main attraction as supporters flocked to get items such as shirts, jerseys, hats, and scarves. Even women’s leggings were on sale, despite the school being an all-boys’ school.

First vice-president of KCOBA USA, Courtney Richardson, told the Sunday Observer that it was a no-brainer to sell the merchandise at the championships after a strong demand in 2025.

“Last year was our 100-year anniversary and the grand idea was we wanted to generate so much money to aids the boys and aid the school, so we said let’s just do a booth at the National Stadium, which is basically help to generate revenue for the school,” he said.

“It was a very successful centennial year, and because it was such a success, we decided to do it a second year and, so far, it has been going good.”

A defining feature of Champs is the burst of colours that flood the National Stadium. However, it’s hard to ignore the flurry of purple and white worn by KC supporters.

Regardless of their success during the five days, Richardson says the school’s brand will always be strong.

“A lot of people gravitate to KC because of the culture,” he said. “In sports, we have done well over the many years and academically, we have done very well over the years. Because we have done it in all different spheres, people gravitate towards supporting us, and that’s a good thing.”

All proceeds from the merchandise sales will go towards the school, a cause that gave KC deputy head boys Jhemar Chin and Jahhas Mullings added vigour as salesmen at the booth as they support their cohort.

Director of KCOBA USA, Cedric Williams, says it’s important to give back in the same way he benefited decades ago.

“When I went to school in the 60s, we had other old boys actually paying it forward. They would come in, they would buy you lunch, they would give you bus fares and they would even try and give you uniforms,” Williams said. “At Kingston College, most boys are from the inner city and the support at home is sometimes lacking, so there’s always need for the kids, and you can’t have kids coming to school and they’re hungry.

“So you have to pay it forward and do what you can now that you’re in a position to do so. We’re paying it forward, just like other old boys paid forward, and we have two deputy head boys here right now with us, and they’re learning, and I’m pretty sure they will carry on the tradition.”